Design
Use Tool
YouTube Video Size Calculator
Estimate video file size, storage and bitrate from resolution, fps and duration — with YouTube upload guidance.
Up to 4K 24–60 fps Audio-only size No limits
Estimate 0
Ready to calculate
The estimate updates as you type — press Calculate to be explicit.
About the youtube video size calculator
Uploads fail, storage fills up, and exports take forever — usually because the file size was a surprise. This calculator estimates the size of a finished video from the three numbers that actually determine it: resolution, frame rate and duration, plus the bitrate your encoder is using.
It also shows the bitrate YouTube recommends for that resolution and frame rate, so you can tell whether your export settings are sensible before you spend an hour rendering.
Recommended bitrates by resolution
These are broadly sensible targets for H.264 or H.265 uploads. Higher bitrates preserve more detail; if your export is far below these numbers, expect visible compression in motion and fine texture.
| Resolution | 24–30 fps | 48–60 fps |
|---|---|---|
| 720p (1280 × 720) | 5 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p (1920 × 1080) | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 1440p (2560 × 1440) | 16 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| 4K (3840 × 2160) | 45–68 Mbps | 68–85 Mbps |
| 1080 × 1920 vertical | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
Two extra rules: the recommended bitrate is total video plus audio, and mixed-content footage (screen recordings, slides) needs far less than live action. A talking-head talking video at 1080p is usually fine at 4–6 Mbps.
How the estimate is calculated
File size is bitrate multiplied by duration, divided by eight to convert bits to bytes:
size in MB = (bitrate in Mbps × seconds) ÷ 8
Duration is what most people get wrong. A 20-minute video at 1080p and 12 Mbps works out to roughly 1.8 GB, which is why render times and upload times matter as much as export settings.
For audio-only uploads, the same formula applies: 128 kbps is fine for voice, 192 kbps for music, and both translate to about 14 MB and 21 MB per hour respectively.
These are estimates based on the encoder bitrate you enter, not on your source file. Encoders vary, and variable bitrate encoding will land somewhere near the average rather than exactly on it.
How to use the youtube video size calculator
-
Pick a resolution
Choose 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K, vertical 1080 × 1920, or a custom pixel size.
-
Set the frame rate
Choose 24, 25, 30, 50, 60 or a custom value. Higher frame rates need more bitrate for the same quality.
-
Enter the duration
Type minutes and seconds, or use the quick buttons for 1, 5, 10 and 60 minutes.
-
Enter your bitrate
Use your export preset, or fill in the recommended bitrate if you have not chosen one yet.
-
Read the results
File size, storage needed, megabits per second and the audio-only size appear immediately.
-
Compare and decide
Switch to a different resolution or bitrate to see the trade-off before you export.
Features of the youtube video size calculator
-
Any resolution
Presets from 480p to 4K, plus vertical 1080 × 1920 and a custom pixel size.
-
Frame rate aware
24, 25, 30, 50, 60 fps or custom, with a bitrate recommendation for each.
-
Instant file size
Megabytes, gigabytes and hours of footage calculated as you type.
-
Recommended bitrate
The calculator shows the target bitrate for your resolution and frame rate, so you can compare against your export preset.
-
Storage check
Total storage needed for a batch of videos, not just one file.
-
Audio-only size
The same maths for a voice-only or music-only upload at 128 or 192 kbps.
-
Upload time estimate
Rough upload duration on a typical home connection.
-
No uploads, no limits
The maths runs in your browser, so there is no file or duration cap.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate video file size?
Multiply the bitrate in Mbps by the duration in seconds, then divide by eight. For example, 12 Mbps for 600 seconds is about 900 MB.
What bitrate should I upload to YouTube?
Around 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24–30 fps and 12 Mbps at 48–60 fps; 45–68 Mbps for 4K at 24–30 fps. Screen recordings and talking-head videos can use considerably less.
How big is a 1080p 20-minute video?
At 12 Mbps it is roughly 1.8 GB. At 6 Mbps it is about 900 MB. That difference is why bitrate choice matters for long videos.
Does 60fps double the file size?
No. It increases the recommended bitrate by around 50%, not 100%, because much of the frame is unchanged between frames. A 60fps 1080p export at 12 Mbps is about 1.5× the size of a 30fps export at 8 Mbps.
Is vertical 1080 × 1920 a good idea for YouTube?
It is the right choice for Shorts, and it works for standard uploads too. The same 1080p bitrate guidance applies because the pixel count is identical.
How long does the upload take?
A 1 GB file at 100 Mbps takes about 80 seconds; at 20 Mbps it takes around 7 minutes. The estimate uses a typical home connection speed, so treat it as a guide.
Know the size before you render
Check the numbers first, then spend your time on the edit instead of waiting for an upload.